Bleiberg signs Brown

Gold Coast United coach Miron Bleiberg has added more depth to his midfield department by agreeing terms with highly-rated Australian Under-20 international, James Brown.

Gold Coast United coach Miron Bleiberg has added more depth to his midfield department by agreeing terms with highly-rated Australian Under-20 international, James Brown.

Eighteen-year-old Brown, who grew up in the Tweed Shire, has been a Qantas Young Socceroo regular since 2007 and penned a three-year deal with the new Hyundai A-League club on Tuesday.

A product of the Gold Coast Soccer representative program and subsequently the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) and the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), Brown recently returned from international duty with the Qantas Young Socceroos where he featured in the AFC Under-19 Championships in Saudi Arabia.

Speaking from England where he is continuing his scouting mission Bleiberg was hopeful the youngster could fulfill his undoubted promise in United colours.

"James can play in a number of positions; anywhere in the midfield or as striker. He's big, strong and quick; hopefully he can realise his potential with us," he said.

"According to the staff at the AIS, James was in the top 10 per cent of players they had there. He was out for almost a year with osteitis pubis, but has come back well and is now in the Australian Under-20 side."

"He's a Kingscliff boy and was an outstanding junior on the Gold Coast. It's great to be able to sign a local youngster with so much potential and I'm sure he can look forward to a good career in the game."

Brown said he hopes to blaze a trail for indigenous youth in the region, encouraging them to pick football as their sport of choice.

"This is a dream come true for me and my aim is to make the most of this opportunity," Brown said.

"I'd love to see more indigenous kids playing football and I hope to help promote that in the future. Having a Hyundai A-League club on the Gold Coast now gives every local young footballer something to aim for."